The Best Burgers in America

Recommendations from the nation's top restaurant critics

Miami: Kingdom

6708 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL (305-757-0074)

Miami's best burger doesn't don any designer toppings or fancy homemade bread. Instead, patrons of this raucous Biscayne Corridor dive bar get a simple, evenly formed, char-grilled patty of chopped sirloin served on a lightly toasted sesame-seed bun. Owner Justin Hughes won't divulge the secret subtle seasonings, but standard toppings include romaine lettuce, a slice of tomato, red onions, and choice of melted cheese—plus a combo of sauces featuring chipotle with a kick. Kingdom's smallest and most recommended burger, The Queenburger, is a grand half-pounder, while the King version boasts 12 ounces of beef. The 24-ounce Doomsday is offered free for anyone who can finish it—along with a side of the addictive herb-flecked fries and onion rings—in less than 15 minutes. —Victoria Pesce Elliott, Miami Herald restaurant critic